Kalamazoo man faces charges for heroin possession after a traffic stop

Michigan man faces charges for drug possession after a routine traffic stop.

2014-02-20

February 20, 2014 (Press-News.org) Kalamazoo man faces charges for heroin possession after a traffic stop

Many criminal investigations evolve from traffic stops. That was the case, for example, when local police arrested a Kalamazoo suspect during a routine traffic detention. The man was allegedly hiding heroin inside his shoe and body.

In late January 2014, an officer from the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team stopped the suspect on the road. The man allegedly consented to a search of his vehicle and pursuant to the investigation, officers claim to have found heroin hidden in the man's shoe. The suspect was also allegedly hiding 10 grams of heroin inside his body.

After authorities arrested the motorist, investigators secured a search warrant for the man's home. Officers ultimately uncovered 85 grams of heroin inside the suspect's clothing and a firearm under the mattress of his bed.

The man is now facing federal charges for "possession with intent to distribute heroin" and "possession of a firearm by a felon." A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

Heroin charges in Michigan

The penalties for drug crimes can be very severe in Michigan. The above-mentioned suspect is facing allegations for heroin possession. Heroin is considered a Schedule 1 drug. This classification of drugs refers to substances that are severely addictive, harmful or abused.

In Michigan, heroin possession is considered a felony. The specific punishment associated with a crime depends on the particular case; however, the court considers the amount of heroin uncovered at a scene, too.

For example, those discovered with less than 50 grams of the drug face up to $25,000 in fines and up to four years behind bars. Those carrying 50 grams to 449 grams of heroin can be fined up to $250,000 and receive two decades in prison. Moreover, those convicted with 450 grams to 999 grams of heroin could be ordered to pay $500,000 and do 30 years in prison. Finally, if one is caught with more than 1,000 grams of heroin, he or she could be ordered to pay $1,000,000 and experience a life sentence behind bars.

In addition to the amount of heroin possessed by the defendant, the court considers other factors in sentencing, including the offender's criminal history and the circumstances of the specific crime. Nevertheless, the court is not forgiving when it comes to drug crimes. For this reason, if you face charges for heroin possession or other drug offenses, you should consider legal assistance.

Article provided by David G. Moore, Attorney at Law
Visit us at www.dgmoorelaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Police focusing on DUI in San Diego - Results in more intrusion into your freedom by checkpoints

2014-02-20

Police focusing on DUI in San Diego - Results in more intrusion into your freedom by checkpoints When a city begins to see a large number of crimes repeatedly occurring in a certain part of town, they will often consider steps that they should take to help prevent these things from happening in the future. They may increase police presence or devote more resources to making the community safer for all residents. San Diego has recently experienced a number of serious car accidents caused by motorists who were allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol at the ...

The sad truth about deadly Texas car accidents

2014-02-20

The sad truth about deadly Texas car accidents Given the fact that Texas is one of the most populated states in the country, it makes sense that there is a relatively high fatal auto accident rate, but the truth about these crashes is both sad and surprising. According to figures provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2012 (the most recent year for which relevant data is available), nearly 3,400 Texans lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents. That is a sharp increase over recent years, and it illustrates some sobering facts: -On average, someone ...

Employer "ultra rigid" in workers' comp denial, court finds for employee

2014-02-20

Employer "ultra rigid" in workers' comp denial, court finds for employee A case out of New Jersey can provide a lesson for employers across the country. In the case, an employee was leaving her job when she was involved in a car accident. More specifically, the majority of her vehicle had left the employer's garage when she was hit by an oncoming vehicle. The employee's car was struck as she attempted to merge from the garage onto the city roadway. The employee was injured and filed a claim for workers' compensation. The employer denied the workers' compensation ...

Nebraska upholds gun restriction against man convicted of misdemeanor

2014-02-20

Nebraska upholds gun restriction against man convicted of misdemeanor Nebraska recognizes a person's right under the Second Amendment to bear arms. However, a person can lose that right if convicted of a violent crime. The state upholds the right to deny a permit to carry a concealed handgun for people who have previous violent convictions or for those who the state otherwise views as a danger to themselves or others. On January 17, the state's highest court recently revisited this issue and ultimately upheld the Nebraska State Patrol's decision to deny a man's right ...

Punishment is possible even if you refuse a DUI breath test in Virginia

2014-02-20

Punishment is possible even if you refuse a DUI breath test in Virginia Under the law in Virginia, drivers are already "deemed" to have given consent to have their breath or blood tested for the presence of alcohol should they ever be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). Otherwise known as Virginia's implied consent statute, this particular law not only creates presumed consent based merely upon the operation of a motor vehicle upon a Commonwealth highway but it also establishes the grounds for punishing drivers who refuse chemical testing following ...

Hospital errors and the impact on patient health

2014-02-20

Hospital errors and the impact on patient health Many medical facilities have certain procedures in place that are designed to limit the number of mistakes that could happen when treating patients. Some do a much better job than others, and patients often want to know where they should go to avoid being subjected to potential errors. Some medical facilities have a very poor record when it comes to providing care to their patients. Preventable errors lead to health complications, potentially leading to medical malpractice claims against these facilities and the medical ...

Be careful about working together with spouse on your divorce

2014-02-20

Be careful about working together with spouse on your divorce In some situations, people going through a divorce decide that they can work with their spouse to address all of the tough issues that arise. They attempt to put aside their emotions, only to realize that they are soon bogged down into the same feelings that they had leading up to the divorce. If they are not careful, they will find themselves unable to make progress, or worse, stuck in a situation that they cannot resolve. One of the biggest mistakes that many divorcing couples make is that they want to ...

Thousands of criminal cases compromised in Florida?

2014-02-20

Thousands of criminal cases compromised in Florida? Many criminal cases often turn on important, tangible evidence. For example, many drug investigations depend on the evaluation of materials found at the scene of the investigation or purported crime. In many cases, a criminal lab must assess and inspect evidence in an effort to confirm or dispute whether the materials are, in fact, criminal in nature. Recently, a Florida crime lab employee resigned just as local authorities discovered a lab was missing crucial drug evidence. The employee submitted a letter of resignation ...

Missouri considering changes to whistleblowing laws

2014-02-20

Missouri considering changes to whistleblowing laws Every day, workers report to their occupations to perform their daily job activities. These employees know that their employers expect them to complete tasks in a timely and cost-efficient manner. For most companies and their employees, this is the usual routine. As long as the employer is not subjecting their employees to unnecessary safety risks or asking them to break laws, there will generally not be any major problems. However, when employers break laws, employees may feel obligated to report this wrongdoing ...

David M. Staples Honored for Excellence in Mergers and Acquisitions

2014-02-20

SpartanNash Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David M. Staples has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Staples has nearly three decades of experience in business finance and mergers, with 14 years as executive vice president and chief financial officer of SpartanNash. His expertise lies in the areas of finance, mergers and acquisitions. SpartanNash is a grocery food retailer and distributor; it is the largest food distributer in revenue serving military commissaries in the United States. ...

Dr. Paul Donlin-Asp of the University of Edinburgh to dissect the molecular functions and regulation of local SYNGAP1 protein synthesis with support from CURE SYNGAP1 (fka SynGAP Research Fund)

Kalamazoo man faces charges for heroin possession after a traffic stop

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: